Patriots knockout defending champs
By: Brian McNally
Examiner Staff Writer
May 19, 2006
VIRGINIA — Prior to this season the high point in the brief seven-year history of Yorktown’s girls lacrosse team was winning the National District championship in 2002. But in the Northern Region respect comes with a much higher price than that.
Let’s just say the Patriots have found out what it takes to get the attention of the area’s top public school programs.
Playing an aggressive, attacking style of lacrosse that emphasizes its speed and tenacity, Yorktown earned a decisive 10-6 victory over two-time defending region champion W.T. Woodson at Washington-Lee on Thursday in a region tournament quarterfinal game.
Before an 11-3 win over Westfield on Tuesday, the Patriots had never won a region tournament game at all. The closest they came was a heartbreaking 12-11 overtime loss to West Springfield in the first round last spring. But with a senior-laden roster they figured it might take a while to get another chance after that loss. It hasn’t.
"To go from never having won a game in the region tournament to making the semifinals is awesome," said Yorktown junior Molly McCartin. "With the number of seniors we lost I personally didn’t expect to make it this far this season. But now I think we can do anything."
Yorktown (16-2), which has also set the program record for wins in a season, is scheduled to play the winner of Thursday night’s quarterfinal between Annandale and No. 2 Oakton in the semifinals on Monday night at Woodson. The Cavaliers, who finished second to Langley in the Liberty District, ended their season at 12-6.
Yorktown led 3-2 at halftime over the Cavaliers, but really took control early in the second half with three quick goals. The Patriots won even though junior attack Reid Cifrino, the National District player of the year, did not register a goal. And that depth, more than anything, is why Yorktown believes a region championship is a realistic goal.
"We just have a lot of strong, fast players," said junior attack Melissa Bennett, who scored three goals. "It’s as simple as that. We didn’t have a lot of experienced players coming into the season. But we had girls willing to work every day to get better."
A defense led by junior Linden Rock, who had never picked up a lacrosse stick before this season, and goalie Sarah Sitcov helped limit Woodson’s formidable attack, which had been held below 10 goals just once in its last 12 games. Rock and Bennett, a three-year varsity player, both joined Cifrino as first-team all-region selections.
"We’ve already gone on a winning streak where we’ve beaten Loudoun Valley and Woodson and Westfield," said junior Sophia Webster. "From now on our attitude has to be that we can go all the way."
Cage rattlers
» Juniors Molly McCartin, Sophia Webster and Melissa Bennett each scored three goals for the Patriots.
» Senior Michaela Seigo and Michele White both registered two goals for W.T Woodson.
» Woodson has won three of the last four region and unofficial state championships.
